photo – visions-of-indochina.com
An ancient Cambodian martial art having its origins on the battlefield, its name literally translates to “pounding a lion”. By using a diverse array of strikes and weapons it may not be surprising to know that Bokator has been responsible for numerous deaths.
Although technically it is no longer practiced, Combato was an extremely lethal fighting system used in World War II by the Canadian Armed Forces. First developed by Bill Underwood in 1910, after the war several law enforcement agencies requested him to teach their officers. Bill refused, however, on the grounds that Combato was too violent and thus developed Defendo as a more civilian friendly successor.Developed by Bruce Lee, this hybrid martial art was his response to the “flowery” techniques used in other systems. Bruce felt that although these stylistic forms certainly had aesthetic appeal, their practical usefulness was nearly zero.
photo – martial-arts.findthebest.com
Practiced by the Korean military for hundreds of years, this martial art is split into three categories – thrust, strike, and slice. Unlike many of its Korean counterparts, however, its focus is much more on practical fighting techniques than artsy philosophies.
photo – capoeira-connection.com
Although today it is more of a dance than anything else, this martial art was born in the slave ghettos of Brazil hundreds of years ago. Originally, it was meant to be a technique by which runaway slaves could defend themselves against attackers, but before long its practice came to be outlawed due to its “dangerous nature”. As a result practitioners disguised it as a dance by which it lives on today.
photo – kajukenbocanada.com
Originating on the streets of the crime ridden Palama settlement in Hawaii, this highly effective and to the point martial art combines numerous influences and was developed specifically to give locales the ability to defend themselves against not only gangs but also drunk navy sailors who had a tendency of starting fights.
Developed by Justo Deigues Serrano as the cumulation of his fighting experiences on the streets of Spain, the Keysi method is intended to be used for self defense in violent street level encounters. It has gained widespread popularity in recent years and was even featured in the newer Batman movies.photo – dominionma.com
Sambo is a deadly combination of grappling and wrestling that was developed for the Red Army in the early 1920’s. It was originally created specifically to improve the Soviet special force’s hand to hand combat capabilities, but after a surge in crime the government began training security guards and public law enforcement as well. Evidently it’s a bad idea to rob banks in Russia.
Okay, although brawling isn’t really a martial art, the idea of digging a pit and having two men duke it out street style just had to be on here somewhere. This modern day gladiator fighting was started by biker gangs in California and the practice has actually given rise to several world renowned competitive fighters.
Sometimes called Arnis or Kali in the west, Escrima is a Filipino Martial Art that was outlawed by Spanish invaders as a result of it being “too dangerous”. Like some others on this list it only exists today because for the next several hundred years it was disguised as a dance.Similar to other non sport martial arts, this hybrid fighting technique developed by Tom Schrenk in the 90s doesn’t focus on scoring points or having correct form. Its sole purpose is to enable an outnumbered defender to turn the odds in his favor during a violent street assault. Unlike some other methods on this list, however, it does make an attempt to at least use reasonable levels of force.
An acronym standing for Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response, this method of self defense was developed by Tony Blauer in the 80s. Its focus is on using a person’s natural reflexes when faced with threatening situations and has been adopted by numerous police forces and militaries around the world.
A system of self defense built on ancient Japanese martial arts, Nindokai was developed by Dr. Gerhard Shonberger in Germany during the early 90’s. Similar to Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kun Do it eliminates all of the “showy” techniques and focuses only on that which is effective to surviving a fight.photo – globalkick.wordpress.com
A lethal combat method employed by the Russian Special Forces, Systema is similar to Krav Maga in that its sole purpose is to do as much damage to your adversary as quickly and efficiently as possible.
photo – syracusejiujitsu.com
Gaining popularity around the world when Royce Gracie won the first, second, and fourth ultimate fighting championships, he ended up defeating much larger opponents who had trained a variety of other styles. The effectiveness of bjj, however, comes from its emphasis on ground fighting and giving smaller practitioners an advantage by employing body leverage.
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Jeet Kune Do was terribly underestimated. Bruce Li was a duel citizen from two different cultures and fighting styles creating the first hybrid styles to beat other styles when necessary. Be like water. Without him these other styles mention latter would not be possible. Yet the core of JKD and Vovinam as well, is the philosophy of adapting to other styles and taking in the best styles and using other styles to combat your opponent which covers joint manipulation to animal styles and lethal attacks to vital areas. Bojuka should be under JKD simply because it uses Bruce Li’s theory but doesn’t use the lethality of Wing chun.
Silat styles not being mentioned is disappointing as well, it at least deserves an honorable mention simply because of how violent and cutthroat the intention of the art is. These southeastern cowboys would bring a machete to a mush Thai fight. Capoeira practitioners which were used to defend against spear throws, would not be as effective as jujitsu practitioners.
So even though the list was quite informative (there were a few styles that were introduced that were new to me) I think the author was a little impartial to his favorite styles. I probably am too.
Thanks for this list man. I have never seen such a wide ranging one of fighting styles. They are almost always the same recycled hash of currently popular ones. I have never even heard of many of the styles you included. I’m going to have to look some of them up.
I am particular to bjj and the grappling styles. Wrestling too and judo can be devastating but I understand they aren’t as lethal. They are ultra effective and probably the most applicable. I am most intrigued though by the military ones you’ve included. Of course everyone has heard of krav maga but some of the others.
Steve
Hapkido is not in the list, why?
No Silat, seriously. And why is Eskrima/Arnis/Kali and Jeet Kundo at the bottom 15. I’m pretty sure you underestimated the true effectiveness of these arts by lumping them down there.
LMAO You must be really stupid to make a list like this one.
Check out Tai Shu Do “The Way of Ultimate Techniques”!!!
sir, i want to learn capoeria styles
Kung Fu San Soo……..it speaks for itself
Persons,
do you not get it yet? at first even the real ‘internal schools’ are literally hard before they graduate to anything approaching what we might call ‘internal’. (by the way, if you have ever been ‘double-punched’ by an expert, then you KNOW, if not, possibly you should just quietly assimilate the following).
The normal hard schools are there for all and the real ones are not easy. For major crowds, any idiot can be encouraged to rip the testicles/ears from an opponent, it doesn’t take much training, it only needs adrenalin/fear/survival mode.
For any organised unarmed combat, (and I agree wholeheartedly), it should be simple, vicious and efficient; if the mindset is right, the rest will follow, 20% technique 80% badness (I might be quoting Fairbairn here)….I might be agreeing too!
For myself, I think that martial arts should remain just that………fine if you want to have a contest involving lots of money, with rules and things you cannot do, that is undoubtably fighting, for sure but it is not a lethal Martial Art, therefore it is a contest between fighters with certain given rules and safety, ie a Sport.
I suppose we all must train, and in order to get better AND help others to get better, we obviously have to tone down the power and the violence, that’s just common sense, but never dilute the original message, rather reinforce it….
Martial Arts lately, for the ordinary guy in the street and the countless thousands fighting via interface, THIS IS NOT REAL, wake up to the fact if you are not a very fit guy engaged in one-on-one tapout tactics….which is fine (I wouldn’t like to face any of those guys) but if you did that in the street his pals would just kick your head in! I’m not slating (read dissing) your hero , I’m just being practical, which is where ‘real martial arts’ gets introduced; firstly, practical. Secondly, effective. Thirdly, devastating, Fourthly, wanted, fifthly, you are probably now wanted, so keep a low profile.
Lastly, you have the potential to learn a serious art from those that have gone before you
kalaripayattu is most deadliest martial art in the world.it attacks the vital points(marmas) in you body.there are such 108 marmas.one knock will kill you within seconds.it is also the oldst martial art which as 5000 years of history.using this techniques rajendra cholan conquered upto malayasia and entire south east asia.apart from these another unbelivable art is nokku varmam.it kills the opponent by starring him. it is scinetifically proved the master of kalaripayattu creates magnetic field which defends him.it requires atleast 14 years of training to master this greatest art.
Do you even know anything about those styles. because you sound like complete idiot with those descriptions.
In reference to #7. we called it droppin 52s or any variation of 52′s…also crackarate…squirrelin’…
Wow, who came up with this list!A complete joke. Not 1 chinese martial arts. Not one of these is a real complete system except maybe samba, and boxing.Almost everyone of these styles or series of techniques came originally from Chinese martial art( Shuai Chiao being the oldest). Please do any research, this list is silly at best.
Escrima is a complete art actually. Most lineages teach it incorrectly, but if you find a good school that teaches the real art, it covers everything from weapons to hand to hand to grappling, trapping, and dirty boxing. The only thing we shy away from is ground fighting because Escrima always assumes the enemy is armed and at any moment you could be facing multiple attackers. Therefore we train to avoid going to ground as much as possible.
oldest martial art is “crack the head with stone, or stick the pointy stick”
all the major civilizations had one form or another deadly martial art to protect its peoples so, its pointless to argue which is the oldest, best or the baddest, it all depend on the person practicing. you need the metal capacity to personally harm any one, and physical fitness when you are young and experience when you are old
don’t you think that after all this time we have been on the planet and not come up with best ways to maim and kill each other over and over with each civilization and perfect it, there can be only so many ways to kill in combat
all styles have a deadly components which is always hidden from the novice of any system cause with experience come wisdom to use it responsibly .
want to be a bad ass get in to fights nothing can teach as experience supplement it with knowledge of anatomy of human body and much time as you can get with an expert of any system can get your dream
feel free to agree or disagree….
Krav maga is not number one I ve seen the real thing and its nots number one I do like the other in the lists but I think the most deadleist is the one that can be used in all situation and is not fixed in any way like jeet kune do simple is better and anythings can be added to it there no ruled on what to add as long as it has effectiveness in real combat and jujutsu is in many martial arts today because of its effectiveness you see it in krav maga, mcmap, and sambo I like ninjutsu the art of killing the art of the ninja must have if your a survivalist or self defend nuts its number two if anything military martial art is a mix of many type of martial art like jujutsu, muy thai, and other but its good because of no rule no game playing but I thought it was to fixed and patterned and some of it needed to be cut back and some of it need to be a little more simple and direct and all the other are street fighting and sports street fighting is every good fighting art ever made just cut down to want good or bad and its matter what you do in the fight if there no rule you can do anything it you not the art itself that blood and guts thing has be in the art and in sports killing is against the rules.
All arts, have there good and bad points but Pekiti Tirsia Kali, was left out of the equation.
Escrima was listed as 16, PTK is just a form of Escrima. Pretty cool system too, I’m with a Serrada group and we cross train with PTK, FCS, and Modern Arnis guys three times a year.
Check out Tai Shu Do 太術道 when translated means “The Way of The Supreme Art” or “The Way of Ultimate Techniques” and it is a fantastic style of martial art for both self defense and physical fitness.
Tai Shu Do is a combination of several different styles of martial arts uniquely blended to provide the most realistic combat self defense for the streets.
Tai Shu Do is currenty being taught in Grove City, Ohio by its Founder Bob Yoder.
Yet traditional wrestling dominates them all. But alas, no mention as it is seen as a sport rather than a martial art.
Wing chun is the original Krav maga the art of killing as Bruce lee called it
Bro.. u missed the most lethal, most developed martial art of all. Its kalari payatu . It is also regarded by some as the origin of all martial arts. There are various stages of learning. Marma kala is the highest stage. A person proficient in marma kala can kill you with one touch on a vital part of your body. Kalari payatu is also the most developed martial art cause it covers all weapons. Check it up on wikipedia you will know better.
I see no mention of any of the 500+ styles of kung fu here. Bagua would have been a good one to throw into the mix. So effective that it was adopted by all the imperial bodyguards. One of it’s most famous modern exponenets was Wang Shu Jin. Even when well into his seventies he was sought out by top fighters from all over Asia who wanted to test their skills in no holds barred combat. He never lost. He’s also known for introducing Tai Chi to Japan.
Brazilian Jui Jitsu but no judo?
Great list you’ve got here!
Just a note; Bruce Lee’s name is spelled like so. You may have mixed him up with the also amazing (and still living) Jet Li.
Derik,
Bruce’s name was orginally spelled Li befrore he moved to the U.S. and adopted the Americanized spelling once he became famous.
He was born in america….
derek, go back to your TV. I think the green lantern is on!